Adjustable lenght golf tee

ABSTRACT

An adjustable length golf tee designed for use with a complementary driving range practice mat includes a base member, an intermediary member and an upper member that are telescopingly joined together in an interlocking relationship to form a unitary, inseparable device. Each of the base, intermediary and upper members is hollowed out along the majority of its length. As a result, the tee is designed to collapse or otherwise temporarily deform upon being struck with a golf club, thereby rendering the tee highly durable in nature. In use, the intermediary member is capable of displacement relative to the base member and, in addition, the upper member is capable of displacement relative to the intermediary member to provide the tee with an overall length that can be adjusted between 1.75 inches and 3.40 inches. In this manner, the tee can accommodate a wide range of golf club head sizes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/463,569, which was filed on Feb. 18, 2011 in the names of Elliot A. Lipstock, David J. Reali and Paul M. Wolstenholme, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to golf accessories and more particularly to reusable golf tees adapted for use with driving range practice mats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Practice, or driving, ranges are well known in the golfing industry and operate as designated areas for practicing golf shots. In this capacity, driving ranges are commonly utilized for recreational, instructional and training purposes.

While certain practice ranges utilize grass hitting surfaces to closely simulate actual playing conditions, the considerable maintenance required to maintain a grass-based practice range is often unattainable due to, among other things, cost factors as well as high volume usage. Accordingly, golf mats are commonly utilized on practice ranges to allow for repeated ball striking on a relatively consistent hitting surface. To promote a more realistic surface, practice range golf mats are often constructed to include a plurality of synthetic fibers similar in look and feel to blades of grass that are, in turn, mounted onto a relatively soft and compressible foam base designed to cushion and absorb forces associated with repeated golf club strikes.

Due to its relatively solid construction, golf mats of the type as described above are not typically designed for penetration by the sharpened tip of a traditional golf tee. Rather, a vertical bore is commonly formed into conventional golf mats through which a golf mat tee can be disposed, the tee being constructed of a highly flexible and durable material, such as rubber, to allow for repeated use.

One type of reusable golf mat tee which is well-known and widely used in commerce is in the form of an elongated, hollowed, one-piece tube that includes a widened, outwardly protruding flange at its bottom end. In use, the golf mat tee is inserted through the vertical bore in the mat with the enlarged flange firmly abutting the underside of the mat. Disposed as such, the free end of the tee serves as a support surface for holding a golf ball a fixed height above the top surface of the mat.

As can be appreciated, reusable golf mat tees of the type as described above have been found to suffer from a notable shortcoming. Specifically, each tee is a fixed in length and therefore capable of supporting a ball a constant, pre-determined distance above the top surface of the mat. However, it has been found that a considerable degree of variance in the desired lift, or height, of a golf ball above the top surface of a mat is typically required, the variance being largely dependent upon, inter alia, the particular size, style or type of club to be utilized as well as individual user preferences.

Accordingly, adjustable length golf tees for use in conjunction with practice range mats are known in the art. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,663 to Elliot A. Lipstock, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, there is described an adjustable length golf tee for use with a commercial practice mat. The tee includes a base, a first support unit and a second support unit that are telescopingly joined together in an interlocking relationship to prevent disassociation. In use, the base is designed to be fittingly inserted through a vertical bore in a complementary golf mat, the top end of the second support unit having a concave structure that is adapted to support a golf ball above the top surface of the mat. As can be appreciated, by adjusting the position of second support unit relative to the first support unit and, in turn, the position of the first support unit relative to the base, the golf ball height can be modified to meet user needs.

Although useful in varying the amount of lift of a golf ball above a practice range mat, the adjustable length tee described in the above-referenced '663 patent suffers from a number of notable shortcomings.

As a first shortcoming, the adjustable length practice mat tee described in the '663 patent has been found to be inadequately designed to absorb the forces associated with routine golf club strikes. Rather, the forces imparted onto the tee during its use have been found to result in permanent fragmentation. Inadvertent breakage of the practice mat tee can attributed to, among other things, the solid, inflexible construction of its second, or top, support unit as well as the relatively large diameter of the interior cavity in the base that receives the first support unit.

As a second shortcoming, the adjustable length practice mat tee described in the '663 patent is constructed to allow for a variance in tee length that falls in the range between approximately 1.375 inches and 2.500 inches. Due to unforeseen increases in both the thickness of practice mats as well as the head size of current golf clubs, the aforementioned tee length range has been found to be largely inadequate. In particular, the aforementioned tee fails to lift a ball above the top surface of the mat to height suitable for use with certain oversized golf clubs, thereby limiting its usage.

As a third shortcoming, the adjustable length practice mat tee described in the '663 patent utilizes a design that does not closely simulate the size, shape and aesthetically-pleasing appearance of traditional golf tees used in most rounds of actual golf play. In particular, the adjustable length practice mat tee described above includes both a concave ball support surface that is significantly oversized (approximately 0.625 inches in diameter) and a first support unit provided with externally protruding shock absorbing ribs that are rather conspicuous in nature.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved reusable golf tee adapted for use with driving range practice mats.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reusable golf tee of the type as described above that is adjustable in length.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a reusable golf tee of the type as described above that is durable in nature.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a reusable golf tee of the type as described above that can be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of golf club head sizes and user preferences.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a reusable golf tee of the type as described above that is aesthetically pleasing and closely resembles the appearance of traditional golf tees used in actual golf play.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reusable golf tee that has a limited number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to use.

Accordingly, as a principal feature of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable length golf tee comprising (a) a base member shaped to define a longitudinal interior cavity, (b) an intermediary member telescopingly coupled to the base member, the intermediary member being shaped define a longitudinal interior receptacle, and (c) an upper member telescopingly coupled to the intermediary member, the upper member being hollowed out along the majority of its length, the free end of the upper member being adapted to receive and support a golf ball.

Various other features and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, an embodiment for practicing the invention. The embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a reusable golf tee constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the golf tee being shown in its extended position;

FIG. 2 is front perspective view of the reusable golf tee shown in FIG. 1, the golf tee being shown in its collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, top perspective view of the reusable golf tee shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, section view of the reusable golf tee shown in FIG. 2, taken along lines 4-4, the base of the reusable golf tee being shown inserted through a transverse countersunk bore B formed in a complementary golf practice mat; and

FIGS. 5( a)-(c) are assembled section views of the reusable golf tee shown in FIG. 2, taken along lines 4-4, the reusable golf tee being shown in various positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a reusable golf tee that is constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and identified generally by reference numeral 11. As will be described in detail below, golf tee 11 is designed for use with a complementary driving range practice mat. In use, the overall length of tee 11 can be adjusted between an extended, or lengthened, position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a collapsed, or shortened, position, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to vary the height that tee 11 supports a golf ball away from the top surface of the mat.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 1-4, golf tee 11 comprises a base member 13, an intermediary member 15 and an upper member 17 that are telescopingly joined together in an interlocking relationship to form a unitary, inseparable device. By incrementally adjusting the position of intermediary member 15 relative to base member 13 and, in turn, the position of upper member 17 relative to intermediary member 15, the overall length of tee 11 can be acutely adjusted to meet user needs, which is a principal object of the present invention.

Preferably, each of base member 13, intermediary member 15 and upper member 17 is constructed of a material that is sufficiently rigid so as to provide adequate support for a golf ball positioned thereon yet flexible and deformable so as to provide adequate durability. For example, each of members 13, 15 and 17 is preferably manufactured out of rubber, polyurethane or a synthetic composite thereof. With members 13, 15 and 17 assembled in a fitted telescoping relationship, it should be noted that the use of a polyurethane-based material creates a significant degree of friction between pieces that serves to retain tee 11 in its set length until an adequate compressive or expansive force is applied thereto, which is highly desirable.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, base, or bottom member 13 is a unitary item that includes an enlarged pedestal 19 from which projects an elongated tubular body 21. Together, pedestal 19 and tubular body 21 define an interior cavity 23 that extends longitudinally through base member 13, the cross-section of interior cavity 23 being constant along the majority of its length. As can be seen, base member 13 has an overall height H of approximately 1.375 inches, with the transverse cross-sectional diameter D₁ of interior cavity 23 being approximately 0.750 inches.

Pedestal 19 is generally annular in shape and includes a flat top surface 19-1 and a flat bottom surface 19-2. As will be described further below, base member 13 is dimensioned for fitted insertion through a countersunk bore B that is formed in a complementary practice range mat M, with flat bottom surface 19-2 resting directly upon the surface of the ground and flat top surface 19-1 firmly abutting against the countersunk underside of mat M. In this capacity, pedestal 19 is firmly wedged in place between the ground surface and mat M.

Tubular body 21 projects generally orthogonally away from flat top surface 19-1 of pedestal 19 and includes an inner surface 21-1, an outer surface 21-2 and an open free end 21-3. An integral, annular shelf 25 is formed onto inner surface 21-1 of tubular body 21 at its free end 21-3. As will be described further below, shelf 25 sharply reduces the cross-sectional diameter of longitudinal interior cavity 23 at free end 21-3. In this manner, shelf 25 serves as an interlocking engagement surface for retaining a portion of intermediary member 15 within interior cavity 23, thereby precluding separation of intermediary member 15 from base member 13.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, intermediary member 15 is in the form of an elongated cylindrical body that includes an inner surface 15-1, a smooth outer surface 15-2, a first end 15-3 and a second end 15-4. As can be seen, intermediary member 15 is shaped to define an interior support member, or stem, receptacle 27 that extends longitudinally therethrough along the majority of its length.

An outwardly protruding, annular collar 29 is integrally formed onto outer surface 15-2 of intermediary member 15 at first end 15-3. Collar 29 is dimensioned for fitted insertion within the lower, widened portion of interior cavity 23, the frictional engagement between outer surface 15-2 of collar 29 and inner surface 21-1 of base member 13 serving to releasably retain the position of intermediary member 15 at various positions within base member 13. Furthermore, collar 29 is sized and shaped to abut firmly against the underside of shelf 25 when tee 11 is disposed in its extended position, thereby precluding separation of intermediary member 15 from base member 13.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, a thin, circular interior wall 31 is integrally formed onto inner surface 15-1 at first end 15-3. Wall 31 is dimensioned to enclose receptacle 27 at first end 15-3. A central vent hole 33 approximately 0.050 inches in diameter extends transversely through interior wall 31, the function of vent hole 33 to become apparent below.

Outer surface 15-2 is generally rounded at second end 15-4 for aesthetic purposes. In addition, an inwardly protruding flange 35 is integrally formed onto inner surface 15-1 at second end 15-4. As can be seen, flange 35 reduces the cross-sectional diameter of receptacle 27 at second end 15-4. In this manner, flange 35 serves as an interlocking engagement surface for retaining a portion of upper member 17 within the widened lower region of receptacle 27, thereby precluding separation of upper member 17 from intermediary member 15.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, upper member 17 is a unitary item that includes an enlarged head, or stop, 37 from which protrudes an elongated stem 39.

Head 37 is generally in the form of a solid cylindrical boss that includes a flat top surface 37-1, a flat bottom surface 37-2 and a continuous rounded outer wall 37-3. It should be noted that head 37 is dimensioned for fitted insertion within the lower, widened portion of receptacle 27, the frictional engagement between outer wall 37-3 of head 37 and inner surface 15-1 serving to releasably retain upper member 17 at various positions within the length of intermediary member 15. Furthermore, top surface 37-1 of head 37 is sized and shaped to abut firmly against the underside of flange 35 when tee 11 is disposed in its extended position, thereby precluding separation of upper member 17 from intermediary member 15.

Elongated stem 39 comprises a cylindrical portion 39-1 that projects generally orthogonally away from flat top surface 37-1 of head 37 and a funnel-shaped cup portion 39-2 formed onto the free end of cylindrical portion 39-1 in coaxial alignment therewith. As can be appreciated, cup portion 39-2 outwardly flairs towards its free end in order to receive and support a standard-sized golf ball, the free end of cup portion 39-2 having a diameter D₂ that is approximately 0.45 inches.

As can be appreciated, tee 11 is preferably assembled by telescopingly connecting members 13, 15 and 17. Specifically, base member 13 is telescopingly mounted over intermediary member 15, with collar 29 on intermediary member 15 fittingly disposed within the lower, widened portion of interior cavity 23 in base member 13. At the same time, intermediary member 15 is telescopingly mounted over upper member 17, with head 37 on upper member 17 fittingly disposed within the lower, widened portion of receptacle 27.

Assembled in the manner set forth above, reusable tee 11 can be used in the following manner to provide means for supporting a golf ball at a variable height above the top surface of a practice range mat. Specifically, referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5( a)-(c), tee 11 is inserted through a pre-formed transverse countersunk bore B formed in complementary golf practice mat M, as shown in FIG. 4. As can be appreciated, tubular body 21 extends longitudinally through bore B so that cup portion 39-2 is disposed above the top surface of mat M. In addition, pedestal 19 lies flush within the countersunk portion of bore B, thereby fixedly retaining reusable tee 11 in place within mat M.

In FIG. 5( a), tee 11 is represented in its expanded position. Specifically, upper member 17 is pulled vertically upward relative to intermediary member 15 until head 37 abuts against the underside of flange 35. Similarly, intermediary member 15 is pulled vertically upward relative to base member 13 until collar 29 abuts against the underside of shelf 25. Configured as such, tee 11 has a maximum length L₁ of approximately 3.400 inches.

By applying a significant downward force onto stem 39, upper member 17 travels vertically downward within intermediary member 15, with the presence of vent hole 33 enabling air trapped within receptacle 27 to escape as needed. As seen in FIG. 5( b), the continued displacement of upper member 17 relative to intermediary member 15 ultimately results in the abutment of head 37 against interior wall 31, thereby precluding further downward displacement of upper member 17 within receptacle 27.

Further application of a downward force onto stem 39 causes intermediary member 15 to travel vertically downward within base member 13. Ultimately, the downward displacement of intermediary member 15 (which, in turn, carries upper member 17) results in the abutment of interior wall 31 against the flooring surface on which the practice mat M is mounted, thereby precluding further downward displacement of intermediary member 15, as shown in FIG. 5( c). In this manner, it is to be understood that the underside of first end 15-3 lies substantial flush with bottom surface 19-2 of pedestal 19.

Configured as such, tee 11 has a minimum length L₂ of approximately 1.750 inches. Accordingly, it is to be understood that tee 11 is capable of being configured to have any length that falls between its minimum length L₂ of approximately 1.750 inches and its maximum length L₁ of approximately 3.400 inches.

As can be appreciated, tee 11 is provided with a number of notable design features that renders it more advantageous than reusable practice mat tees that are well known in the art.

As a first design feature, each of members 13, 15 and 17 is hollowed out along the majority its length. As a result, tee 11 is designed to collapse or otherwise temporarily deform upon being struck with a golf club. This temporary deformation of tee 11 acts to absorb the forces applied thereto upon impact in a controlled manner, thereby rendering tee 11 more durable in nature, which is highly desirable.

As a second design feature, tee 11 is provided with a thin, smooth aesthetic appearance that more closely resembles the appearance of tees used in actual rounds of golf. In particular, the reduced-sized cup portion 39-2 (approximately 0.450 inches diameter) is both aesthetically pleasing and also limits the drag applied to a golf club as it strikes a ball supported by tee 11, which is highly desirable.

As a third design feature, tee 11 utilizes dimensions that limit the risk of separation between members 13, 15 and 17 as a result of a golf ball strike. In particular, base member 13 is constructed such that the transverse cross-section diameter D₁ of its interior cavity 23 (which is approximately 0.750 inches) is less than its overall height H (which is approximately 1.375 inches). As can be appreciated, it has been found that by maintaining the diameter D₁ of interior cavity 23 at a value that is less than the overall height H of base member 13, tee 11 is rendered less susceptible to separation between members 13, 15 and 17, which is highly desirable.

As a fourth design feature, tee 11 is configured to allow for a wider range of lengths. Specifically, as noted above, tee 11 is capable of being configured to have any length within the range of 1.750 inches and 3.400 inches. As a result of this substantial increase, tee 11 is more adequately able to accommodate use with larger club heads, which is highly desirable.

The embodiment shown in the present invention is intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art shall be able to make numerous variations and modifications to it without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. An adjustable length golf tee, comprising: (a) a base member shaped to define a longitudinal interior cavity; (b) an intermediary member telescopingly coupled to the base member, the intermediary member being shaped define a longitudinal interior receptacle; and (c) an upper member telescopingly coupled to the intermediary member, the upper member being hollowed out along the majority of its length, the free end of the upper member being adapted to receive and support a golf ball.
 2. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediary member extends coaxially within the interior cavity in the base member and is capable of longitudinal displacement therewithin.
 3. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper member extends coaxially within the interior receptacle in the intermediary member and is capable of longitudinal displacement therewithin.
 4. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transverse cross-sectional diameter of the interior cavity in the base member is less than the overall height of the base member.
 5. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of the base member, intermediary member and upper member is constructed of a material from the group consisting of rubber, polyurethane and a synthetic composite thereof.
 6. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tee can be adjusted between a maximum overall length of approximately 3.400 inches and minimum overall length of approximately 1.750 inches.
 7. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 3 wherein the base member comprises an enlarged pedestal from which projects an elongated tubular body, the tubular body having an inner surface, an outer surface and an open free end.
 8. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 7 wherein the intermediary member includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end that is fittingly disposed within the interior cavity in the base member and an open second end that extends out beyond the open free end in the base member.
 9. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 8 wherein the intermediary member includes an outwardly protruding collar at its first end, the collar being fittingly disposed within the interior cavity in the base, the collar being dimensioned to continuously frictionally engage the interior surface of the base member.
 10. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 9 wherein the tubular body of the base member includes a shelf formed on its inner surface that protrudes inwardly into the interior cavity.
 11. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 10 wherein the collar on the intermediary member is dimensioned to selectively abut against the shelf in the base member to limit upward displacement of the intermediary member relative to the base member and thereby prevent separation of the intermediary member from the base member.
 12. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 8 wherein the upper member comprises an enlarged head from which protrudes an elongated stem, with the enlarged head being fittingly disposed within the interior receptacle in the intermediary member and the stem extending through the open second end in the intermediary member.
 13. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 12 wherein the stem is hollowed along the entirety of its length.
 14. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 13 wherein the stem includes a funnel-shaped cup portion at its free end that is adapted to receive and support a golf ball, the free end of the cup portion being approximately 0.45 inches in diameter.
 15. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 12 wherein the enlarged head of the upper member is dimensioned to continuously frictionally engage the inner surface of the intermediary member.
 16. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 15 wherein the enlarged head of the upper member is dimensioned to selectively engage the intermediary member to limit upward displacement of the upper member relative to the intermediary member and thereby prevent separation of the upper member from the intermediary member.
 17. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 16 wherein the intermediary member includes an interior wall that substantially encloses the interior receptacle at its second end.
 18. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 17 wherein a vent hole extends transversely through the interior wall in the intermediary member.
 19. The adjustable length golf tee as claimed in claim 17 wherein the enlarged head of the upper member is dimensioned to selectively abut against the interior wall in the intermediary member to limit downward displacement of the upper member relative to the intermediary member.
 20. An adjustable length golf tee comprising a plurality of individual members that are telescopingly coupled together, each of the plurality of members being hollowed out along the majority its length. 